Self-tightening chuck with a radial lock

Abstract

A drill chuck including a spindle portion with a pusher bore, a spindle bore, an annular array of teeth, and an annular groove defined by the outer surface of the first end. A body is rotatably disposed about the spindle portion and includes a central bore, an annular groove defined by the central bore, and a pawl pivotably mounted to the body for selectively engaging the annular array of teeth. A jaw pusher includes a threaded post and a head, the threaded post being disposed in the pusher bore and configured for axial motion. A jaw guide is disposed on the first end of the body and includes a plurality of jaw slots. A plurality of jaws is slidably received in the corresponding jaw slots and slidably received by the head of the jaw pusher. A plurality of bearing balls is received between the annular groove of the spindle portion and the annular groove of the body. The annular groove of the spindle portion and the annular groove of the body form a continuous pair of bearing races for the plurality of bearing balls.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A drill chuck for use with a powered driver, comprising:
 a spindle portion including a pusher bore on a first end, a spindle bore on a second end, and an annular array of teeth disposed about its outer surface; 
 a body rotatably disposed about the spindle portion, the body including a central bore for receiving the spindle portion, and a pawl including an engagement end, the pawl being pivotably mounted to the body, the pawl being configured to selectively engage the annular array of teeth on the spindle portion; 
 a spring disposed on the body, the spring biasing the engagement end of the pawl radially inwardly and extending along substantially an entire circumference of the body; 
 a jaw pusher including a threaded post and a head, the threaded post being rotatably disposed in the pusher bore of the spindle portion; and 
 a plurality of jaws, each jaw being slidably received by the head of the jaw pusher. 
 
     
     
       2. The drill chuck of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an annular groove defined by the outer surface of the first end of the spindle portion; 
 an annular groove defined by an inner surface of the central bore of the body adjacent its first end; and 
 a plurality of bearing balls received between the annular groove of the spindle portion and the annular groove of the body, 
 wherein the annular groove of the spindle portion and the annular groove of the body are both continuous, thereby forming a continuous pair of bearing races for the plurality of bearing balls. 
 
     
     
       3. The drill chuck of  claim 2 , wherein the annular groove of the spindle portion and the annular groove of the body are completely enclosed within the drill chuck such that the plurality of bearing balls is shielded from external elements. 
     
     
       4. The drill chuck of  claim 1 , further comprising a jaw guide disposed on the first end of the body, the jaw guide including a plurality of jaw slots formed therein, wherein each jaw is slidably received in a corresponding jaw slot and slidably received by the head of the jaw pusher. 
     
     
       5. The drill chuck of  claim 1 , wherein the body of the drill chuck comprises a powdered metal. 
     
     
       6. The drill chuck of  claim 1 , wherein the spring is substantially C-shaped. 
     
     
       7. The drill chuck of  claim 6 , wherein the spring is received in an annular groove defined in an outer surface of the body. 
     
     
       8. The drill chuck of  claim 1 , further comprising an actuating sleeve that is rotatably disposed about the body. 
     
     
       9. The drill chuck of  claim 8 , wherein the actuating sleeve is rotatable relative to the body between a first locked position and a second unlocked position. 
     
     
       10. A drill chuck for use with a powered driver, comprising:
 a spindle portion including a spindle bore and an annular array of teeth disposed about its outer surface; 
 a body rotatably disposed about the spindle portion, the body including a central bore for receiving the spindle portion; 
 a pawl including an engagement end, the pawl being pivotably mounted to the body, the pawl being configured to selectively engage the annular array of teeth on the spindle portion; 
 a spring disposed on the body, the spring biasing the engagement end of the pawl radially inwardly and extending along substantially an entire circumference of the body; and 
 a plurality of jaws, each jaw being both non-rotatably fixed and axially moveable with respect to the body, 
 wherein rotation of the body in a first closing direction moves each jaw radially inwardly toward a longitudinal center axis of the drill chuck and rotation of the body in an opposite second opening direction moves each jaw radially outwardly away from the longitudinal center axis. 
 
     
     
       11. The drill chuck of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a pusher bore formed in the spindle portion opposite the spindle bore; and 
 a jaw pusher including a threaded post and a head, the threaded post being disposed in the pusher bore and configured for axial motion relative to the spindle portion, 
 wherein each jaw is non-rotatably fixed to the head of the jaw pusher. 
 
     
     
       12. The drill chuck of  claim 10 , further comprising a jaw guide disposed on the first end of the body, the jaw guide including a plurality of jaw slots formed therein, wherein each jaw is slidably received in a corresponding jaw slot and slidably received by the head of the jaw pusher. 
     
     
       13. The drill chuck of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the spindle portion further comprises an annular groove defined by the outer surface of the first end; 
 the body further comprises an annular groove defined by an inner surface of the central bore adjacent a first end of the body; and 
 a plurality of bearing balls received between the annular groove of the spindle portion and the annular groove of the body, 
 wherein the annular groove of the spindle portion and the annular groove of the body are both continuous, thereby forming a continuous pair of bearing races for the plurality of bearing balls. 
 
     
     
       14. The drill chuck of  claim 13 , wherein the annular groove of the spindle portion and the annular groove of the body are completely enclosed within the drill chuck such that the plurality of bearing balls is shielded from external elements. 
     
     
       15. The drill chuck of  claim 10 , wherein the spring is substantially C-shaped. 
     
     
       16. The drill chuck of  claim 15 , wherein the spring is received in an annular groove defined in an outer surface of the body. 
     
     
       17. The drill chuck of  claim 10 , wherein the body is formed of a powdered metal.